Elle — leila steib

Art Direction + Editing & Retouching + Styling + Set Design

ELLE (her) is a personal project reflecting my own experience with sleep disorders often causing nightmares. My aim is to express the feeling generated by this dark vicious circle. This editorial doesn't represent a nightmare as such, but the anxiety, sadness and isolation it engenders. I see this as a way of creating something beautiful out of something dark, and motivating people to do the same. The whole concept has a strong theatrical inspiration, coming from the fact that I really enjoy writing to express myself. That's what I wanted to emphasize.

nov. 24

The first black look represents that moment of lonelines, when we shut ourselves away in our misery. We find the model without much expression. She's coming to terms with these emotions and she no longer reacts. She does, however, have a notebook to let it all out. The make-up also expresses this, the tears have flowed and marked the individual, but they no longer run, the lips are pale because she suffers alone.

As this editorial is presented as a story, the second look is a continuation of the first one. With white as a symbol of hope, the individual becomes aware of everything and decides to get out of this misery. As the individual becomes aware, all emotions come to the fore: expressive, sad, aggressive or active. It's a recovery, a transformation. The make-up is adjusted, she cried again, but they're tears of hope. The lips are colored with emotion and ambition. The principle of superposition of these two looks represents all the emotions that build up continuously.

credits:

art direction, post-production, styling & set design - Leila Steib
photography - Teaghan
hair & makeup - Juliane Baur
model - Maria Rodriguez
nail artist - @unknownailartist

let’s work together!